Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Canadian and Irish ships set to challenge Israel’s illegal blockade with Freedom Waves to Gaza

Français ci-dessous ---

For Immediate Release
2 November 2011

Canadian and Irish ships set to challenge Israel’s illegal blockade with Freedom Waves to Gaza

The Canadian ship Tahrir and the Irish ship Saoirse have successfully reached
international waters, marking the start of the Freedom Waves to Gaza campaign.
The boats are currently in the Mediterranean Sea, preparing to sail for Gaza
within a matter of hours.
“Flowing out of the Freedom Flotillas, the Freedom Waves to Gaza are now
underway,” says Canadian Boat to Gaza organizer Ehab Lotayef from on board
the Tahrir. Also on board in this citizen-to-citizen initiative are delegates
from Australia, the US, and Palestine. “We are now in international waters
and hope to reach the shores of Gaza in a matter of days. Among the significant
obstacles in our way are Israel’s military and the complicity of the Harper
government, but we have the wind of public opinion at our back and in our
sails, which strengthens our resolve and determination to challenge the illegal
blockade of Gaza’s 1.5 million inhabitants.”
“The fact that we have reached international waters is another victory for
the movement,” says Canadian Boat to Gaza organizer David Heap from on board
the Tahrir. “Despite economic blackmail, despite the outsourcing of the
blockade to Greece, despite being forcibly boarded by the Greek Coast Guard,
and despite Israel mobilizing a significant portion of its navy to stop us, we
are now even closer to reaching Gaza, breaking the blockade, and occupying the
occupation.”
“The Palestinians living in Gaza want solidarity not charity, and have made
it clear to the world that their primary demand is for freedom. While
humanitarian aid is helpful, Gazans are still prisoners with no freedom of
movement,” adds Lotayef. “Israel’s illegal blockade prevents not only
imports into Gaza, but exports as well. And the blockade prevents Palestinians
from moving freely between Gaza and the West Bank, in violation of fundamental
human rights.”
The Freedom Waves to Gaza initiative is a non-violent, civil society movement
to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Bios of delegates are available
here. There will also be various media outlets reporting on developments aboard
the Tahrir, including Al Jazeera and Democracy Now.
Restrictions at the eleventh hour by the port authorities have meant that only
one third of the assembled delegates and media have been allowed to embark.
Despite this latest challenge, the Tahrir and Saoirse will soon be at full
speed ahead toward Gaza.
“While the Tahrir will be delivering much-needed medicines, our primary aim
remains to help free Palestinians from the open-air prison known as Gaza,”
says Heap. “There’s a song from the civil rights movement with the chorus
of “we who believe in freedom cannot rest.” And we will keep challenging
the illegal blockade until Gaza and the rest of Palestine is free.”
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For more information or to arrange an interview with a delegate on board the
Tahrir:
English inquiries: Dylan Penner, Canadian Boat to Gaza, 613-859-6996
French inquiries: Denis Kosseim, Canadian Boat to Gaza, 514-923-5594
NOTE: Interviews with Tahrir delegates are possible in English, French, Spanish
and Arabic.www.tahrir.ca , Twitter: @CanadaBoatGaza, #FreedomWaves, #Canada4Gaza

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About Me

*Mohamed S. Kamel: is a Freelance writer, the editor of http://forafreeegypt.blogspot.com/, he is a professional engineer, a LEED Green Associate and a recognized project manager professional (PMP), he is Member of several civil society organizations, a co-founder, ex-Secretary General of The Egyptian Revolutionary Council (ERC), a co-founder of the Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD-CECD), Egyptian Worldwide for Democracy and Justice (EW4DJ), Canadian Egyptian for Democracy (CEFD), National Association for Change in Egypt (Taghyeer – Canada), Alternative Perspective Media (APM-RAM), , Quebec Antiwar movement “Échec à la Guerre”, Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine “CJPP”, ex-president and co-founder of the Canadian Muslim Forum (CMF-FCM), member of the board of trustee in the Canadian Muslim for Palestine (CMP) and Cultural Center for Montreal Muslims (CCMM). He could be reached at public@mohamedkamel.com and followed at @mskamel